NAIROBI (Xinhua) --
Kenyan authorities on Monday arrested a Vietnamese national at
the main airport in Nairobi for illegal possession of wildlife
products that included eight lion canine teeth, three lion claws
and two warthog teeth.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
said in a statement its canine unit nabbed the Vietnamese
national as he cleared his luggage at Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport (JKIA) enroute to Bangkok.

"The illegal wildlife products were sealed inside a Thermos
Flask, wrapped with foiled paper in checked-in luggage, in the
hope it would pass undetected by KWS sniffer dogs that are part
of the canine unit stationed at the airport, specifically to
detect contraband wildlife products on illegal transit," said
KWS

Kenya wildlife agency said the suspect, Truong Trung Hieu was
on transit from Liberia aboard the East African country’s
national carrier heading to Bangkok when he was arrested.

"The foreigner was booked at JKIA police station, awaiting
arraignment in court tomorrow (Tuesday) when the courts will
have found an interpreter," said KWS.

Kenya has lately intensified the war against illegal
trafficking of wildlife products through its ports of entry
using state of the art detection equipment and trained canine..

EARLIER REPORT:

Three suspected poachers
arraigned in Kenyan court

KITALE (Xinhua) --Three suspects were on Monday arraigned in a
Kitale court in Western Kenya charged with being in possession
of wildlife trophies worth 64,000 U.S. dollars without permit.

Josephat Lopowen, Robert Pkiach and Adison Mirenge appeared
before Kitale Senior Resident Magistrate Maureen Cherono, but
they denied the charges.

The accused were charged that on Oct. 17 at Junction In Hotel
Makutano within West Pokot County, they were found with six
pieces of elephant trophies weighing 64kg without a permit from
the Director of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

The court was told that the accused persons were arrested
with the trophies as they tried to source for potential
customers.

The suspects were also charged with dealing in wildlife
trophies without permit, contrary to Section 95 of the Wildlife
Act.

The magistrate had initially placed a bond of 70,000 dollars
for each suspect but it was later reviewed and reduced to 15,000
dollars each.

The suspects were remanded after failing to meet the bond
requirement.

The case will be mentioned on Oct. 30 and hearing will
commence Dec. 17.